Chewy Granola Bars

Serves: 12

Ingredients:

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/4 cup sunflower kernels
3 tablespoons flaxseed
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. In a small mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, peanut butter, honey, butter and vanilla.

2. Stir in the oats, sunflower kernels, flaxseed, and sesame seeds. Fold in chocolate chips.

3. With wet, clean hands press FIRMLY into an 8-in. square baking dish coated with nonstick cooking spray.

4. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until set and edges are browned.

5. Cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

Notes:

Allow granola to stand for a day before cutting for best results.

Experiment with various fruits, nuts, and seeds to suit your own tastes. A couple of suggested variations are tropical fruit mix (1/2 cup dried tropical fruit instead of chocolate chips, 1/4 cup of coconut flakes, banana-peanut spread instead of peanut butter) and strawberry and chocolate mint (instead of chocolate chips, either melt or chop an entire box of Andes mint chocolates, 1/2 cup of dried strawberries, 1/2 cup sliced almonds, 1/4 cup banana-peanut spread).

For a vegan version, replace honey with agave nectar and use dairy-free chocolate chips.